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    Groningen: protesters demand safety for residents and an end to gas drilling in the Province

    Shell CEO: Groningen gas field should be closed this year

    ‘There’s a reason why I stayed to work in the Netherlands. Apply and give it a shot’

    ‘There’s a reason why I stayed to work in the Netherlands. Apply and give it a shot’

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    Groningen resident wins 5.1 million euros in lottery

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    University of Groningen students stage sit in for social safety (UPDATED)

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    Watch: The New Energy Coalition is on a mission to improve our world

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      Groningen welcomes Qatar 2022 with cheer and criticism

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      “Tall Ships” Race coming to Friesland this week

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      Noorderzon festival returning to Groningen in August

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        Luna: Leeuwarden light festival and young artists’ exhibition winding down this weekend

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          International Welcome Centre North

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            The cold of the North is compensated by the warmth of its people – Ocean Grazer engineer

            The cold of the North is compensated by the warmth of its people – Ocean Grazer engineer

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            Watch: A workplace that sells itself – CTO on working at Ocean Grazer

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            Watch: We’re hiring internationals to help us with foreign clients – ACS Buildings CEO

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            Talk on International Growth by local founders to take place on the 21st of June

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            Groningen to host its first sustainable business day

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            Companies in Dutch energy sector seek next cohort of young leaders

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            Annual Beta Business Days event a success

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              Groningen: protesters demand safety for residents and an end to gas drilling in the Province

              Shell CEO: Groningen gas field should be closed this year

              ‘There’s a reason why I stayed to work in the Netherlands. Apply and give it a shot’

              ‘There’s a reason why I stayed to work in the Netherlands. Apply and give it a shot’

              Eemshaven’s docking problems force HNL to move to Emden

              Groningen resident wins 5.1 million euros in lottery

              Here’s when people will get the next energy bill help in 2023

              University of Groningen students stage sit in for social safety (UPDATED)

              University of Groningen students stage sit in for social safety (UPDATED)

              Construction of badger tunnel underway in Molkwerum

              Pride and passion: football in the northern Netherlands

              Police detain underage fan after FC Groningen player is punched in Eredivisie game

              Watch: The New Energy Coalition is on a mission to improve our world

              Watch: The New Energy Coalition is on a mission to improve our world

              Who are the BBB? The BoerBurgerBeweging explained

              Trending Tags

              • Lifestyle
                • All
                • Food & Drinks
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                • What's happening
                Groningen welcomes Qatar 2022 with cheer and criticism

                Groningen welcomes Qatar 2022 with cheer and criticism

                The anti Zwarte Piet protest in Emmen

                Emmen: Four people still detained after anti Zwarte Piet protest

                The inside of Forum Groningen

                “Let’s Gro” opens a discussion on the future of Groningen

                What about food in student city Groningen?

                Where to get knockout fries in the northern provinces

                Ukraine Food opens in Groningen

                Ukraine Food opens in Groningen

                Buses will no longer travel through the Grote Markt in Groningen

                Buses will no longer travel through the Grote Markt in Groningen

                “Tall Ships” Race coming to Friesland this week

                “Tall Ships” Race coming to Friesland this week

                Noorderzon festival returning to Groningen in August

                Noorderzon festival returning to Groningen in August

                Plans for extensive Kardinge residential expansion revealed

                Plans for extensive Kardinge residential expansion revealed

                Trending Tags

                • Culture
                  • All
                  • Dutch history
                  • Typical Dutch
                  Luna: Leeuwarden light festival and young artists’ exhibition winding down this weekend

                  Luna: Leeuwarden light festival and young artists’ exhibition winding down this weekend

                  Groningen cultural center Usva

                  Groningen makes international headlines for all the wrong reasons

                  International Welcome Centre North

                  International Welcome Centre North

                  A woman.

                  Groninger photographer Courtney Bonneau launches new exhibition in Lebanon

                  Eurosonic Noorderslag

                  Eurosonic Noorderslag

                  Ending the Year with a Bang!

                  Ending the Year with a Bang!

                  It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

                  It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

                  A devastating defeat; an unexpected victory

                  A devastating defeat; an unexpected victory

                  Sinterklaas is Here!

                  Sinterklaas is Here!

                  Trending Tags

                  • People
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                    • Expats
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                    ‘There’s a reason why I stayed to work in the Netherlands. Apply and give it a shot’

                    ‘There’s a reason why I stayed to work in the Netherlands. Apply and give it a shot’

                    International Welcome Centre North

                    International Welcome Centre North

                    The cold of the North is compensated by the warmth of its people – Ocean Grazer engineer

                    The cold of the North is compensated by the warmth of its people – Ocean Grazer engineer

                    Watch: A workplace that sells itself – CTO on working at Ocean Grazer

                    Watch: A workplace that sells itself – CTO on working at Ocean Grazer

                    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

                    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

                    People protesting on a street in Groningen.

                    Former Sugar Homes residents protest for return of withheld deposit

                    I’m not Black; I’m African

                    I’m not Black; I’m African

                    A letter from the Editor – Internationals from 120 countries: Welcome to Groningen, Leeuwarden, Assen and Emmen!

                    MPs call for cap on foreign student numbers in order to ensure ‘accessibility’

                    Watch: I’m 100% positive about my Groningen internship – Hanze international student

                    Watch: I’m 100% positive about my Groningen internship – Hanze international student

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                      The cold of the North is compensated by the warmth of its people – Ocean Grazer engineer

                      The cold of the North is compensated by the warmth of its people – Ocean Grazer engineer

                      Watch: A workplace that sells itself – CTO on working at Ocean Grazer

                      Watch: A workplace that sells itself – CTO on working at Ocean Grazer

                      Watch: We’re hiring internationals to help us with foreign clients – ACS Buildings CEO

                      Watch: We’re hiring internationals to help us with foreign clients – ACS Buildings CEO

                      Small but mighty: TECNED is looking for internationals to help it grow

                      Small but mighty: TECNED is looking for internationals to help it grow

                      Talk on International Growth by local founders to take place on the 21st of June

                      Talk on International Growth by local founders to take place on the 21st of June

                      Groningen to host its first sustainable business day

                      Groningen to host its first sustainable business day

                      Companies in Dutch energy sector seek next cohort of young leaders

                      Companies in Dutch energy sector seek next cohort of young leaders

                      Annual Beta Business Days event a success

                      Annual Beta Business Days event a success

                      What’s it like working in Northern Netherlands?

                      Startup Visa Crew offers support to Ukrainian entrepreneurs (Переклад українською)

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                      Fan Ding: “An old prison turned into a wonderland”

                      Matthijs van Houten by Matthijs van Houten
                      March 11, 2019
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                      My husband thinks I am a fake Chinese person, while I think he is a fake Irish person. In fact, we are more or less the same, just like many other ordinary people who live their everyday lives. I consider myself a global citizen, and home is where I live.

                      By Fan Ding

                      During the past 11 years, my home has been located in Leeuwarden, and it has been a complicated journey for me to truly recognize its beauty. This is a personal story that involved a paradigm shift in order to fall in love with where I live.

                      I used to be a complainer who spent a lot of negative energy on regret and guilt. Especially when it came to where I live, it seemed like there were only drawbacks about this small town: the weather is too rainy and windy, the winter is too long and dark, the center is too quiet and boring, the town is too limited and unfashionable, the people are too strange and impolite, and the food is too simple and unappetizing.

                      “I was not open to adjusting to the living environment”

                      That mindset blocked me from enjoying life and eventually led me into a depression. The truth is that I was not comfortable with the unknown, and I was not open to adjusting to the living environment. I was used to living in mega metropolitan cities, and I failed to value the unfamiliar. Perhaps more importantly, I was not able to appreciate the quality of life here in the north of The Netherlands.

                      My heart and mind changed after a New Year’s Eve party back in 2013. I had been living in Leeuwarden for a couple of years by then, and after having had probably a little bit too much to drink, I was slowly walking home with my sober husband. That slow walk gave me the opportunity to take in my new “views”: the old houses, the cute bridges and the canals suddenly looked extremely authentic, and the diverse street art offered a modern touch to the city. As we passed the Blokhuispoort, a former prison built in 1498, it looked like a castle warmly lit by golden light. I thought it resembled a Disney theme park, even though I have never been to one.

                      It convinced myself to reset my mind and focus on the meaningful aspects in life. What did I have to lose? I cannot change the weather, but I can manage my mood.

                      Quality of life

                      Quality of life is good here in the north. It takes me 5 minutes to get to work by car (traffic is almost non-existent), 10 by bike, and 20 on foot. Imagine the commute time I save daily compared to living in a large city. Leeuwarden is fairly small with easily accessible shops, cafes, restaurants and museums. The air is fresh and parks and nature surround the city. Housing is relatively cheap: my friends pay about two to three times more to live in Amsterdam with similar standards.

                      Although there are more internationals moving here, the relatively intimate nature of the community encourages people to meet up often and help each other out. Like anywhere else in the world, meeting new people is never easy: the best way is just to join group activities and small events where you can open up and talk to others who have common interests. And despite the stereotypes, the locals are not just farmers. I have met many energetic, friendly, creative, down-to-earth and kind people here.

                      Healthcare and childcare are extremely well organized compared to many other industrialized countries in the world. Dutch school systems are diverse and offer equal opportunities, and quality of education is fairly high. As a lecturer working in higher education, I highly value small group teaching and interactive learning. The philosophy of social constructivism emphasizes the power of sharing and promotes interaction. The students are treated as young professionals and independent thinkers. Subsidizing EU students’ tuition fees makes higher education available to pretty much everyone.

                      Finding any authentic foreign cuisine here is admittedly a challenge, but I find myself enjoying cooking at home more and more. I don’t have to spend long hours at work, so I can spend more time with my family and friends.

                      Life is simple and peaceful here, and the quality of life is outstanding in my opinion. What more could I really want? It may sound overly rational, but thinking my way through it has helped me overcome some of the emotional difficulties of being an immigrant. Looking back, I feel like I was imprisoned by my own way of thinking: by focusing only on the most superficial layer of existence, I was keeping myself from enjoying everyday life and taking the beauty of Leeuwarden for granted.

                      Now, I feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment with where I am. I know I would miss this place if I move again in the future: I definitely consider Leeuwarden a home sweet home.

                      Tags: BlokhuispoortFrieslandLeeuwarden
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                      NorthernTimes.nl is an English-language news site for internationals and anyone interested in news and activities in the three northern Dutch provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe. The website provides daily coverage and summaries of local news in the north, as well as human interest stories, backgrounds and a regional events calendar. The Northern Times is an initiative of the International Welcome Center North in cooperation with Persbureau Tammeling BV, which owns and operates the website.

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